Idoit40fans wrote:There is a whole lot of middle ground between playing "poorly" and being the best defenseman on the team.

What exactly does Paul Martin do better than Despres? Please try and be specific. That would make you unique on this board for this particular topic. To me 47 is a bigger and better skating version of Paul Martin

Protected minutes refer to the fact that he is out there under controlled conditions. For example defending the 3rd and 4th lines of the opponent rather than the top 2 scoring lines. Playing PK only against the 2nd unit. That sort of thing.

Beveridge wrote:Protected minutes refer to the fact that he is out there under controlled conditions. For example defending the 3rd and 4th lines of the opponent rather than the top 2 scoring lines. Playing PK only against the 2nd unit. That sort of thing.

Thank you for that explanation. I really do appreciate the specificity of your reply.

Idoit40fans wrote:There is a whole lot of middle ground between playing "poorly" and being the best defenseman on the team.

What exactly does Paul Martin do better than Despres? Please try and be specific. That would make you unique on this board for this particular topic. To me 47 is a bigger and better skating version of Paul Martin

For starters, Paul Martin plays 25+ a night against the other teams' top lines, and he does it pretty well.

Idoit40fans wrote:There is a whole lot of middle ground between playing "poorly" and being the best defenseman on the team.

What exactly does Paul Martin do better than Despres? Please try and be specific. That would make you unique on this board for this particular topic. To me 47 is a bigger and better skating version of Paul Martin

Plays against opponents best players, plays 30 minutes a game, reliably stays in position, sits back when he's supposed to, steps up when he's supposed to, penalty kills against the oppositions top unit, runs the top powerplay. There are a few, which ones are your favorites?

Idoit40fans wrote:There is a whole lot of middle ground between playing "poorly" and being the best defenseman on the team.

What exactly does Paul Martin do better than Despres? Please try and be specific. That would make you unique on this board for this particular topic. To me 47 is a bigger and better skating version of Paul Martin

Plays against opponents best players, plays 30 minutes a game, reliably stays in position, sits back when he's supposed to, steps up when he's supposed to, penalty kills against the oppositions top unit, runs the top powerplay. There are a few, which ones are your favorites?

I get where you guys are coming from on the match up portion of your thoughts and posts. It is a significant point that I concede and learned.

Where I get confused is when you mention "reliably stays in position, sits back when he's supposed to, steps up when he's supposed to." I think those are all strengths of SD. I am coming to realize that he needs to prove that what he's doing against lesser competition and with the 2nd team PP and PK are transferable to first unit level of competition.

Thank you for the exchange. I believe SD is a star in the making but now realize that he needs to prove more against better. I think he definitely will do just that. In case you couldn't tell.

again, there is a difference between saying "despres isn't as good as letang or Martin at this point in his career" and "despres is not a good defenseman." His most glaring weakness right now, like most rookies, is in his decision making process.

He has all the physical tools, and experience will definitely smooth out the mental stuff. He is going to be a top 4 guy. No rush to put him there right now

Idoit40fans wrote:There is a whole lot of middle ground between playing "poorly" and being the best defenseman on the team.

What exactly does Paul Martin do better than Despres? Please try and be specific. That would make you unique on this board for this particular topic. To me 47 is a bigger and better skating version of Paul Martin

I haven't seen Paul Martin fall down while trying to turn himself around as the opposing player flies by him yet.

Few, if any, of us are actual experts with legitimate credentials, so this is all opinion anyway. But in my opinion, Despres is nowhere close to stepping in to replace any of the top four. Experience and great consistency is just too important on D. Especially through a seven game playoff series, the intense scrutiny of which would certainly expose weaknesses to exploit in an inexperienced player.

If the Pens were in development mode, this would definitely be an option. But for a win-now cup contender, it would be negligent to bank on it.

As a win-now team, despite his potential and relatively strong play, he might be the best opportunity to significantly improve the depth of the team for this year and perhaps next through a trade. Especially because the Pens have depth in transition D on the roster and defenseman prospects.

In that same vein, the Pens are going to be in "win-now" more or less, for as long as they have Sid and Geno on the roster -- obviously they will need to develop young talent that can step in and help them do just that during that time period.

Look, everyone knows how I am. I get freaked out real easily. I get emotional over hockey, it actually really bothers me. I really feel like Bylsma is a good hockey coach, but inexperienced, and has some serious flaws that have been exposed. I'm sorry I get mad around here, it just helps to take my frustration out. I definitely was just being a jerk to Mikey about the Pouliot stuff because I don't like soff defenseman and I felt like he was just another Goligoski.

Its almost more enjoyable for me watching a 2006 Penguin team because no serious expectations yet. This current core has the expectation of a cup run almost every year now. I just don't understand why you would not go with the young 20 year old Despres, big body, playing well. Instead they use guys that have been in the minors most of their careers...and the continuing of playing time for Kennedy, Adams, Glass makes me sick that Bylsma lets this go on. These guys need to go. Keep Adams if we have a number 1 PK, but he don't..so why is he even he? I think Adams/Glass has brought down Vitale some.

But anyways thanks for putting up with my crap everyone, and my spam/annoying posts at times. I really like this place, a lot of great hockey minds to hang out with during work and such..

If it makes you feel any better, Pouliot is actually a pretty chippy player. He's had a couple fights this year and gets a lot of penalties for overzealous stickwork along the boards and in front of the net. 60 PIMs in 44 games this season.

Nizzy wrote:Look, everyone knows how I am. I get freaked out real easily. I get emotional over hockey, it actually really bothers me. I really feel like Bylsma is a good hockey coach, but inexperienced, and has some serious flaws that have been exposed. I'm sorry I get mad around here, it just helps to take my frustration out. I definitely was just being a jerk to Mikey about the Pouliot stuff because I don't like soff defenseman and I felt like he was just another Goligoski.

Its almost more enjoyable for me watching a 2006 Penguin team because no serious expectations yet. This current core has the expectation of a cup run almost every year now. I just don't understand why you would not go with the young 20 year old Despres, big body, playing well. Instead they use guys that have been in the minors most of their careers...and the continuing of playing time for Kennedy, Adams, Glass makes me sick that Bylsma lets this go on. These guys need to go. Keep Adams if we have a number 1 PK, but he don't..so why is he even he? I think Adams/Glass has brought down Vitale some.

But anyways thanks for putting up with my crap everyone, and my spam/annoying posts at times. I really like this place, a lot of great hockey minds to hang out with during work and such..

Agree with most of this. I don't know why they can't dress 7 defensemen and sit a forward. Letang does not need to play 30 minutes every game, especially when the team has a multiple goal lead. Adams/Glass/Kennedy don't ALL need to dress every single game. Despres is young and will make mistakes, but he can turn a game around instantly with a stretch pass or a goal. Guys like that should be in the lineup.